Artist Bio & Gallery Narrative
At the intersection of physics and feelings, each drop tells a story.
Authentic
Michael A. Zerivitz (b. 1952, Baltimore USA) didn’t follow the traditional path to fine art photography. For decades, he wielded instruments of precision as a practicing dentist, his hands trained to work in millimeters, his eye conditioned to see the smallest details that others might miss. This scientific foundation would later become the bedrock of his revolutionary photographic technique.
Facing Fear
Raindrops have a symbolic meaning for the Artist, personally. He tells the story of sitting on the front porch of his childhood home during intense summer showers. The nearby flash and crash of lightning and thunder were both terrifying and awe-inspiring to the young photographer. That may have been the time that Zerivitz learned the lesson that facing fear is the best way to overcome fear. That became the basis for melding Physics and Feelings in his current work.
Take a Chance
There are two habits that have stuck with Zerivitz since he was a youth. He picked up his first camera at age 10, beginning his love affair with photography. Traveling is his other love. Since his first international trip at age 16, he has visited over seventy countries and much of the USA. Many of his early trips were solo, which helped build character and determination. Of course, his camera accompanied him on his trips, and some of his favorite images are on display here.
Handmade & Takes Time
The Raindrops images were not born of digital manipulation or AI generation. Each image requires Zerivitz to become part alchemist and part physicist. He sets his transparent substrates at precise angles, positions his subjects before the ultra-high resolution camera, meticulously applies proprietary water solutions, and waits for his decisive moment. When preparation intersects with inspiration, the magic happens.
David vs. Goliath
The photographic world is full of conceptual digital images and AI created artwork. Zerivitz stands as a solitary craftsman, armed only with water, glass, and an unwavering commitment to optical physics. His technique is so difficult to replicate that it has become his signature -- David’s stone in a field of Goliaths.
Emotional
“My Art is my Therapy” Zerivitz states plainly. His journey through perfectionism- once a professional asset, later a personal burden- required therapeutic intervention to find balance. This inner journey helps the artist relate to his subjects and infuse his work with an emotional resonance. The flowing water conceals and reveals in an Impressionistic style that can be felt.